Thousands die on our roads every year

Fatima Al-Otaibi I AM almost certain that counterfeit spare car parts cause many of the road accidents that take place all over the country every year and that claim thousands of lives. There is a black market for cheap spare parts because the agents who sell original parts charge higher prices and earn 200 percent profit.  Among the other reasons that cause horrific accidents on our roads are drivers running red lights and falling asleep behind the wheel. The Ministry of Commerce and Investment recently confiscated large amounts of spare parts in Dammam and Riyadh. Many expatriate workers were caught sticking brands of famous companies on these fake spare parts, such as oil filters, etc. The number of these car spare parts exceeded 1.6 million — an unbelievably large amount. Hopefully, the ministry will intensify its crackdown and confiscate all fake spare parts in the market. Dr. Muhammad Khaimee, the supervisor of the Department of Research Grants at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, said that over 86,000 people have been killed in road accidents in the Kingdom over the past two decades. The Ministry of Health recently said in a statement that road accident victims occupy 30 percent of its hospital beds. These figures are horrifying. I call on all concerned authorities to join forces and crack down on shops that sell fake spare parts and not let them sell these dangerous parts in broad daylight to our young men. The government sustains enormous financial losses every year as a result of these road accidents.